Chapter Fourteen

The bailey was filled with people when the large group rode in. Gavin stood with Marcus and Theo, arms crossed over his chest as he studied the riders in search of Jamie, Geoffrey, and John Armstrong. Nori was with her grandfather. He wasn't sure where the other wives were but knew they were inside. If Rory got word that Jamie was here, though, she'd be flying out of the keep toward her husband and throwing herself into his arms. As much as he'd wanted to kill Jamie in the beginning, Gavin admitted he was happy Rory had met the other War King. His sister was the happiest and safest she'd ever been.

He watched the three men he'd been looking for dismount and stride toward them.

"I assume he's among them?" Marcus asked.

Jamie nodded. "He is."

"And?" Gavin asked. "What do you make of him?"

Jamie shrugged. "He's a hard man but just. Didn't blink an eye when we met him and his soldiers, as if it was nothing new to run into War Kings and their warriors."

"Do you think he knows?" Theo asked.

"No," Geoffrey answered. "He knows only that his king sent for him. He asked if we were the cause."

"I told him Phillip had been attacked by one of his own, a baron's son. That he was healing at Lord Kingsley's keep," Jamie continued. "Armstrong introduced Geoffrey as his granddaughter's husband. Shared that four of the five War Kings were married to women from Phillip's kingdom. Armstrong, Kingsley, Buckingham, Montrose. He recognized the names but…" Jamie cut off with a sigh. "I believe Phillip. Rowan York had no idea where Rory's mother was sent or that he has a daughter."

"How do you think he'll react when he finds out?" Theo asked.

Jamie shrugged, and Gavin knew he only thought of his wife. Jamie wouldn't care what York thought. His sole concern would be for his wife and how everything about to unfold would affect her.

"How is Phillip?" Geoffrey asked.

"Healing," Gavin replied. "His personal physician arrived, and he's been watching over him. Phillip reopened his stitches, and there was a brief fear of fever, but he's healing."

"Good," Geoffrey said before turning to the courtyard, now filled with soldiers and warriors. "York!"

A tall man strode forward, the bulge of muscle apparent even through the thin armor he wore. A large sword hung from his belt, resting along one thigh. A dagger was sheathed along the other. At his back were a group of men Gavin knew had to be his handpicked and trained soldiers. They moved in a way Gavin recognized, a way warriors moved. He wasn't sure exactly what battles were encountered in the east, but he knew the men before him had waged war and won.

"Where is King Phillip?" Rowan York asked as he faced them, no fear in his eyes as he stared down all five War Kings. The male earned Gavin's respect in that moment, and he suspected York earned that from the others, as well.

"He's resting inside," Gavin offered. "My wife is watching over him."

York's eyes narrowed.

"She's his granddaughter," Gavin said.

York never blinked. Gavin watched as he processed the information. He opened his mouth to reply only to snap his jaws shut, gaze going wide as the door behind them opened. Gavin didn't need to look to know who was there. Jamie moved for his wife, hauling her into his side. Rory had eyes for no one but her husband.

"You're back!" she cried, wrapping around him, and Jamie lifted her as he lowered his head, meeting her lips and kissing her as if they weren't all watching. "I missed you," she murmured as she nuzzled into her husband.

York watched with dazed eyes, head shaking in denial. Jamie's gaze went to him and drew Rory's with it. Gavin realized she didn't suspect who she was meeting yet.

"Hello," Rory said, but as everyone stared, she paused. Gavin saw the exact moment it dawned on his sister exactly who looked at her. She clung harder to Jamie.

"Forgive me for staring. You look like someone I used to know," York said, then nodded and moved past her into the keep.

"That was…" Rory didn't finish as Jamie lifted her into his arms.

"Yes," he told her then glanced at the others. "I'm taking my wife to our room. Let us know when he's aware and ready to talk."

Gavin nodded before following. "I'm going to Nori. I don't want her caught between the two men when Phillip confesses his sins. York doesn't strike me as a man to take Phillip's lies lightly."

Theo followed at his side.

"Phillip will probably order everyone from the room before he confesses," he said as they gained the stairs and headed up.

"The man's going to discover he's a father and about to be a grandfather in one day," Rory told them as they paused at the top. "I can't imagine that will sit well, and Nori will be hurt if her grandfather is injured further. She loves him. You have to protect him, Gavin. For her."

Gavin nodded, knowing his sister spoke the truth.

"I'll stay," he promised.

"We'll stay," Theo countered. "You won't face this alone. I'll be with you. It's only right since it involves both of my siblings."

"Put me down," Rory ordered Jamie. When she was on her feet, she pulled both Gavin and Theo into a group hug. "I love you both so much. Knowing that we aren't blood nearly killed me."

"Doesn't matter," Theo growled.

"You'll always be our baby sister," Gavin agreed. He thought she was better off for not having to claim blood with Montrose. He and Theo weren't as lucky.

Before they could say anything else, a woman's scream pierced the air.

Gavin felt his heart stop. It was Nori. He took off at a run, roar spilling from his lips. He paid no heed to the sound of footsteps behind him. All he knew was he needed to get to his wife. He took in everything as he filled the doorway. Immediately, he moved toward Nori who stood behind Alan, who had his sword drawn.

Theo, Jamie, and Rory crowed into the room after him. Gavin continued toward his wife, tugging her against his chest while he continued to assess the room for danger. Phillip was on the bed, hand clutched to his chest, blood staining the bandages at his shoulder. He must have ripped his stitches again. Rowan York was by the wall, rage brewing in his gaze as he stared at Phillip.

"He attacked Queen Montrose's grandfather, my king," Alan said. "While our queen was in the room."

"I'd never harm a woman," York said, briefly flicking his gaze toward Gavin and Nori. "My apologies."

He glanced toward Rory, and it was a broken man who stared out of those eyes. Tears spilled unabashedly down his cheeks.

"I didn't know." He shook his head, pleading in his tone. "If I had… Gods! What he took from me! What he robbed us of. Anne. Your mother. She was the love of my life. I never stopped loving her. Never." Rowan's gaze went back to Phillip. "I curse your name. Knowing what you did. Do you think I didn't hear of how Montrose abused his wife? Or what was discovered when his daughter, my daughter , married a War King? My Anne. Dear gods, what she suffered. I'll never forgive you for what you did. Never."

Rowan took two steps toward Rory then paused as Jamie moved slightly in front of her.

"Know this, War King, hurt one hair on my daughter's head, and I'll see you pay for it."

"How dare you!" Jamie thundered. "I would die before I hurt my wife."

"Did you not take her to punish her for Montrose's sins?" York countered.

"None of that matters," Rory said as she leaned into her husband. "Jamie loves me. He'd never see me harmed. He's threatened to kill Phillip many times for what he set in place, what he allowed." She glanced toward Nori. "But we've made our peace now. I love my husband, but I might never have known him if not for Montrose."

"Rory—"

"Shh," Rory said, placing her fingers against Jamie's lips. "From darkness to the light. You rescued me before you even knew I needed it." She turned back to York, to her father. "I would like to know you. To know more of my mother through you. But my husband is my everything. He and the child we've created. That won't change."

York's gaze went toward where Rory cupped her belly, Jamie's large hand surrounding hers. "You're pregnant?"

She nodded. "Yes. I'm sure our child would love to know his grandfather."

More tears spilled down York's cheeks as he nodded. "I'd like that." He raised his gaze to Jamie's. "I'd like to offer my services. I'm good with my sword, better with my dagger, but best when it comes to strategy."

"I won't relieve you from duty so quickly, York," Phillip warned.

"My fealty was gone the moment I learned of your actions. My men and I won't be returning. We'll head to the Dread Lands if my daughter's husband will have us."

"Maybe, we should take this discussion below," Theo suggested.

"York, we need to speak," Phillip called.

"You need to rest," Nori told her grandfather, though she didn't make a move to step away from Gavin's arms.

"We have nothing further to discuss," York replied. "If someone will direct me where we should set up camp, I'll go see to my men."

"Your men can camp with mine," Jamie offered with a glance down at Rory. "I'll show you as soon as I see my wife is napping as she should be."

"I'm not napping," Rory argued. "I'm pregnant not ill. I'll walk with you. This babe and I need fresh air."

Jamie gave in with a sigh, and Gavin watched the change in York's expression. It was obvious he was still questioning the love between the War King and the daughter he'd yet to really discover.

"We'll walk with you," Jamie relented.

Rory smiled then surprised them all by reaching for York's hand. "Come. Tell me how you met my mother."

York looked lost for a moment. "Anne was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen," he began, taking her hand and letting her lead him from the room, Jamie mere steps behind them.

"He won't be leaving me," Phillip groused from the bed. "Mark my words, he'll—"

"Enough," Nori whispered with a shake of her head. "You'll let him and his men go because it's the right thing to do. The only thing to do. Because I'm asking it of you. You've done enough damage, grandfather. Now, it's time to work on amends." She turned to Gavin. "Take me out of here."

Theo followed them out but parted ways once in the hallway. Theo headed down the stairs in search of his wife while Gavin led Nori back toward their bedroom. He waited until they were alone in their room before asking, "What do you need?"

"Hold me," Nori asked, wrapping her arms around him and squeezing herself tightly against him. "I just need you to hold me."

"Always," he vowed. "You're not alone anymore."

"I know," she whispered. "I'm so glad I have you."

He stopped questioning what he felt at that moment. He knew he was in love with his wife.